iPod folder icon

Most likely

Failing hard drive

Repeated clicking (the click of death: click, click, whir, or grinding) or the red X usually mean the hard drive is failing. A failed drive is the ideal time for a flash upgrade: flash storage has no heads, platters or motor, so the clicking, stalling and seizing that end an old hard drive can't happen. If your old drive still reads, add our music transfer ($129) and we copy everything on it onto the new flash storage.

Next most likely

Loose or damaged hard drive cable

A loose or damaged hard drive cable can make the drive click, drop out or show the red X. Unless the problem started after a repair, the cable itself is rarely the fault on the 6th and 7th Gen: if the hard drive isn't to blame, the logic board is just as likely as the cable.

Free check first Push the cable back in first; replace it only if that does not help.

Also possible

Damaged iPod software

The iPod's software is damaged, so it can't start properly or keeps freezing. Restoring it puts fresh software on it; a restore erases the songs on the iPod.

Free check first If it still shows up on a computer, copy your music off first, then restore it with iTunes (or Finder on a Mac with macOS Catalina or later). If the restore fails, or the problem comes back, the hard drive is the likely fault.

Most likely

Failing hard drive

Repeated clicking (the click of death: click, click, whir, or grinding) or the sad iPod face usually mean the hard drive is failing. A failed drive is the ideal time for a flash upgrade: flash storage has no heads, platters or motor, so the clicking, stalling and seizing that end an old hard drive can't happen. If your old drive still reads, add our music transfer ($129) and we copy everything on it onto the new flash storage.

Next most likely

Loose or damaged hard drive cable

A loose or damaged hard drive cable can make the drive click, drop out or show the sad iPod face. Unless the problem started after a repair, the cable itself is rarely the fault on the iPod Video: if the hard drive isn't to blame, the logic board is just as likely as the cable.

Free check first Push the cable back in first; replace it only if that does not help.

Also possible

Damaged iPod software

The iPod's software is damaged, so it can't start properly or keeps freezing. Restoring it puts fresh software on it; a restore erases the songs on the iPod.

Free check first If it still shows up on a computer, copy your music off first, then restore it with iTunes (or Finder on a Mac with macOS Catalina or later). If the restore fails, or the problem comes back, the hard drive is the likely fault.

Most likely

Loose or damaged hard drive cable

On the 4th Gen and Photo, an iPod that seems too weak to spin up its hard drive often has a hard drive cable problem. A loose or damaged hard drive cable can make the drive click, drop out or show the sad iPod face. A cable fault sounds like click, whir; a failing drive sounds more like click, click, whir.

Free check first Clean the hard drive cable's contacts with 99% isopropyl alcohol (IPA) and re-seat it first; if that fails, it's likely a bad hard drive (our Hard Drive Repair Service is probably the best first option).

Next most likely

Failing hard drive

Repeated clicking (the click of death: click, click, whir, or grinding) or the sad iPod face usually mean the hard drive is failing. Flash storage is the silent alternative to a new drive. On the 4th Gen and Photo we can often fix the hard drive without replacing it, and in most cases all songs are saved.

Also possible

Damaged iPod software

The iPod's software is damaged, so it can't start properly or keeps freezing. Restoring it puts fresh software on it; a restore erases the songs on the iPod.

Free check first If it still shows up on a computer, copy your music off first, then restore it with iTunes (or Finder on a Mac with macOS Catalina or later). On the 4th Gen and iPod Photo the restore can stop at a picture of a plug: connect it to a wall charger to finish. Generic or incompatible wall chargers don't always give the iPod the right voltage: Apple's A1070 wall charger works with every model and is the ideal choice. If the restore fails, or the problem comes back, the hard drive cable, then the hard drive, is the likely fault (our Hard Drive Repair Service is probably the best first option).

Most likely

Failed microdrive (the Mini's hard drive)

When the Mini's tiny hard drive (the microdrive) fails, it shows the sad iPod face or a folder icon, or makes clicking noises. Replace it with a used original microdrive, or upgrade to flash: a failed drive is the ideal time for it. Flash storage has no heads, platters or motor, so the clicking, stalling and seizing that end an old hard drive can't happen. If your old drive still reads, add our music transfer ($129) and we copy everything on it onto the new flash storage.

Next most likely

Loose or damaged hard drive cable

A loose or damaged hard drive cable can make the drive click, drop out or show the sad iPod face. Unless the problem started after a repair, the cable itself is rarely the fault on the Mini: if the microdrive isn't to blame, the logic board is just as likely as the cable.

Free check first Push the cable back in first; replace it only if that does not help.

Also possible

Damaged iPod software

The iPod's software is damaged, so it can't start properly or keeps freezing. Restoring it puts fresh software on it; a restore erases the songs on the iPod.

Free check first If it still shows up on a computer, copy your music off first, then restore it with iTunes (or Finder on a Mac with macOS Catalina or later). On the Mini 1st Gen the restore can stop at a picture of a plug: connect it to a wall charger to finish. Generic or incompatible wall chargers don't always give the iPod the right voltage: Apple's A1070 wall charger works with every model and is the ideal choice. If the restore fails, or the problem comes back, the hard drive (Mini: microdrive) is the likely fault.

Most likely

Failing hard drive

Repeated clicking (the click of death: click, click, whir, or grinding) or the sad iPod face usually mean the hard drive is failing. A failed drive is the ideal time for a flash upgrade: flash storage has no heads, platters or motor, so the clicking, stalling and seizing that end an old hard drive can't happen. If your old drive still reads, add our music transfer ($129) and we copy everything on it onto the new flash storage.

Next most likely

Loose or damaged hard drive cable

A loose or damaged hard drive cable can make the drive click, drop out or show the sad iPod face. Unless the problem started after a repair, the cable itself is rarely the fault on the 3rd Gen: if the hard drive isn't to blame, the logic board is just as likely as the cable.

Free check first Push the cable back in first; replace it only if that does not help.

Also possible

Damaged iPod software

The iPod's software is damaged, so it can't start properly or keeps freezing. Restoring it puts fresh software on it; a restore erases the songs on the iPod.

Free check first If it still shows up on a computer, copy your music off first, then restore it with iTunes (or Finder on a Mac with macOS Catalina or later). On the 3rd Gen the restore can stop at a picture of a plug: connect it to its FireWire wall charger to finish. Generic or incompatible wall chargers don't always give the iPod the right voltage: Apple's A1070 wall charger works with every model and is the ideal choice. If the restore fails, or the problem comes back, the hard drive is the likely fault.